Review Summary: A refreshing change of pace.
It’s been a rough day. Whether you’re an employee or a student, you come home, slamming the door to the house as you enter. The weather isn’t going your way, people aren’t listening to you, and you’ve got five thousand other things on your plate to deal with. Exhausted, you sulk to your room, again slamming the door as you enter and plop down on the bed. Just when it seems like sleep may take you out of your misery, a thought enters your mind. Like a parasite, it won’t leave, and only grows, preventing you from the sleep you so desperately need. The more you ignore it by putting your pillow over your head or turning on the radio to get your mind off it, the stronger it grows. It’s the idea of a revolution. No, it’s not necessarily a huge, all-encompassing revolution, but a simple revolt against all the things that don’t go your way. Though it may occur in the darkest parts of your mind, the wish to fight back and crush all that’s opposing you metamorphoses into a raving, growling monster. Soon, you find yourself out of bed, newly motivated. Face red, blood boiling, you practically growl “What am I waiting for?!” Desperately needing some music as an outlet, you search frantically through ITunes and the Internet for the perfect soundtrack for your revolution. All those interested in a revolt would be more than wise to pick up
Every Wave of Sound.
Indeed, Kingdom of Giants are very angry, and they want you to know it. Whether it’s raging against the man, a past girlfriend/wife, or just the world in general, Kingdom sound ready to tear somebody’s head off and smash it blissfully. However, don’t just take it as swear-filled ranting. The emotion and the fervor that Giants literally infuse like caffeine into their lyrics make the prevalent indignation seem righteous, and it won’t be long before Kingdom has you screaming along with capable vocalist Dana Willax. He’s not reinventing the wheel of metalcore vocalists, no, but his throat-ripping growls and convicting cleans will have you both scared to death and singing along. Here’s another element that contributes to the record’s bruising intensity: the band never truly slows down, so the album is pretty much an adrenaline-racked thrill ride. While both guitarists aren’t amazing, they create animalistic, proficient riffs and straight-up brutal breakdowns. Even the bassist and the drummer have strong contributions, so all members of Giants shine, instead of just the vocalist.
Though “Obstacles” drags on for a little too long, it’s one of the most rousing songs out there. It’s a rollicking roller coaster, from the pulsating drum-and-scream buildup in the intro to the inspirational vocals, catchy chorus, and crisp riffing. The band also offers a contrast lyrically, switching from pushing fellow believers in the cause to verbally annihilating the enemy, much like a general commanding his troops in battle. “In Focus” packs a whopper of a breakdown dominated by breakneck drumming, and more spirited lyrics. Though it again drags on for slightly too long, the climax in the end is actually quite gratifying. “Delusionist” packs more grueling riffs and breakdowns, and though the latter is slightly over-used on the record, the inclusion of a haunting, tinkling keyboard helps add some spice. It’s also got a catchy clean segment, so those who love to both sing and scream will be happy. Speaking of keyboard, “Voltage” paints a backdrop of synth with angry vocals and speedy drumming painting the forefront of the picture. “Hope” has an interesting spoken word dialogue throughout about desiring to help the human race, and this message is a nice uplifting break from the more serious topics of full-on rioting, while some spoken word featured in “MJ Returns” brings to mind Being As An Ocean.
Lyrically, Kingdom of Giants are a cross between an angsty sixteen year old and an angry Union worker, or possibly both. At no point (with the exception of “Hope” and debatably “MJ Returns”) do they display being content with the status quo. Songs like “Obstacles” and “My Compromise” display general repulsion with society, while a song like “In Focus” is slightly more personal. The only quip with the lyrics is an almost over-emphasis on the F-word: while at times it’s quite fitting, at times it seems a little overdone.
Other than a few songs being too much of a breakdown fest (namely, “My Compromise”), Kingdom of Giants created a heck of a debut-full length. Yes, they do check the boxes in some of the genre’s clichés, but they don’t overdo them or over-emphasize them. In addition, they aren’t determined to become the next A Day to Remember or Four Year Strong, which is a refreshing change of pace. If you are searching for an interesting and rebellious take on the genre, then Kingdom of Giants should honestly be your first and foremost choice.
